How to Slip Slip Knit

"Slip Slip Knit", or SSK, is a term often found in knitting patterns. It's a common tool used to decrease two stitches on a stitch while knitting a row. Before learning the slip slip knit stitch, you should be familiar with the knit stitch and the slip stitch.

Remember––slipping means simply transferring the stitches from the left needle to the right. Slip the needle in as if you intend to knit, but do not pull the yarn through. Make sure you are slipping as if you are knitting, by placing the needle at the back of the stitch (slipping knit wise). (If you place the needle in the front of the stitch as if you are purling, this is slipping purl wise.) The image below shows two finished slipped stitched.

There are two types of slip stitches. One where you move the working yarn to the front, then slip the stitch on the left needle to the right needle and one where you hold the working yarn in the back before slipping the stitch. You might do one or the other depending on if you want the slip on the front of your project, on the back, or both. The Linen stitch does this by alternating on which side the yarn is held. When working the right side, the yarn is held in front and when working the wrong side, it's held in back. However, for a slip, slip, knit as in this article, the yarn is usually held in the back.

Check the pattern. It's all dependent on yarn weight, stitches used and size of sweater. Most patterns will give you an idea of how much yarn you will need for a specific size, usually the smallest. Just buy more than you need. Most places will refund unused skeins.